How to Make a Root Cellar

Underground Root Cellar

Making an underground root cellar was my fall project for the year 2010.

This article shows step-by-step how it was designed and constructed, from the planning stage to the final result, including information on drainage, ventilation, and insulation.

I'll explain the mistakes I made and how they were corrected (or how I learned to live with them!).

Planning the Root Cellar

I spent many hours researching and planning before I decided what type of root cellar to build and where to put it. And then spent some more time designing it. I relied heavily on information from the bookRoot Cellaring by Mike and Nancy Bubel and also did some research on the Internet.

There are many different types of root cellars and many different methods of building them. Here I'll just be describing my personal experience in building one with access directly from the basement.

Information about other types and methods, including some simpler and less expensive ones, can be readily found in the Bubels' book or on the Internet. I've provided some links at the end of this article.

Important Elements of a Underground Root Cellar

Size. Make the root cellar large enough for your future needs, since it cannot easily be enlarged in the future. I made mine large enough to put shelves with a depth of 18 inches around three sides and was very pleased with the result.

Good drainage. You'll want high humidity, but not so much moisture that you have standing water or excess condensation. If possible, locate the root cellar in an area that naturally gets good drainage. Ideally, it needs a perimeter drain or drain pipes placed inside.

Ventilation. It's important to have an air intake vent as well as an exhaust vent. This keeps things cool by allowing cold air to enter the root cellar and warm air to exit. This cross ventilation also removes any excess humidity and the ethelyne gasses that are given off by ripening produce.

Temperature. The root cellar must be kept cool enough to preserve the vegetables and fruits, but not so cold that the produce freezes. The soil around and above helps keep the temperature more constant. Vents bring in cool air from the outside when needed. Insulation makes it easier to keep the coolness in.

Humidity. The ideal humidity ranges from 80-95% for most vegetables. The best way to keep the humidity high is to have a dirt floor. There are some vegetables that require lower humidity, such as winter squash, and these should not be stored in a root cellar but rather in a drier place.

Initial Decisions

My first thought was to use an idea I found on the internet: buy a new septic tank, cut a door into it, and put it in the ground. However, I knew I wanted a dirt floor, so the bottom would also have to be cut out.

I called a local company to discuss this idea. They told me it would cost me less to have them build a precast concrete structure without a floor than to try to modify a new septic tank. (This didn't end up being the case.) Unable to find another company to help, I decided to go ahead with their suggestion.

I decided my root cellar would be 8' x 12' on the outside, if I could find a place in the ground to put one that large. So I drew up some plans, including the location of the door and the location of the vent holes, and sent them off to the concrete company.

Excavating for Root Cellar

My next decision was where to put it. It was important to me to have access directly from my basement. The bedrock is very close to my basement walls in most places. In other words, you don't have to dig very far before hitting that ledgy rock. And I needed a hole that was about 6 feet deep!

I hired someone to dig an initial test hole, and assuming we found a place to put the root cellar, to also set up the drainage pipes, and otherwise prepare the site. The photo shows him taking the first scoops of dirt out of the ground. I was so excited!

We were fortunate in that this first spot I chose, which was on the north side of the house, ended up being deep enough. There was only one place where we hit bedrock and we were able to chip that away.

Locating a root cellar on the north side of the house is ideal, since this will help keep the sun from warming the soil above it and thus keep the root cellar cooler.

Root Cellar Drainage Pipes

The hole has been dug! It was tricky because my back steps are a few feet to the right of the hole and a retaining wall is just to the left. It took a lot of careful digging to avoid the collapse of that retaining wall.

Some soil did fall out from under the steps, but a new concrete footing was poured under the post for the step and things were set straight.

After the hole was dug, the next step was to set up a drainage system so water wouldn't collect in that area.

Part of the perimeter drain for the house (the white pipe parallel to the house) was replaced so there would be places to attach drain pipes for the root cellar. In this photo, you can see the drain pipes attached.

Gravel and Footing Pads for Root Cellar

The ground was made level, then "hardware cloth" (a mesh-like screening) was put down to keep the mice and other little critters from burrowing in.

Next, some crushed stone was spread on top of the hardware cloth. The rectangular "tiles" were used as footings to distribute the weight more evenly.

The company that fabricated the root cellar wanted us to use larger "tiles" for footings, but there wasn't enough space for them due to the bedrock being so close. Since one end of the root cellar would be sitting on the footings for the house foundation and one other corner would be sitting on bedrock, we felt that this would be sufficient.

Around here, you have to hire a separate company to cut the opening for the door in the concrete basement wall. (Or do it yourself!) It was a much more complicated process than I had expected, but these guys were real experts.

The concrete was taken out in two chunks: first the upper and then the lower part of the doorway.

Water was applied during the process of cutting through the concrete. Fortunately, I have a basement drain near where they were working. The excavator was used to hoist out the two chunks of concrete that were removed to make the doorway.

Root Cellar Arrives on Truck

When the men arrived with the precast root cellar, the first thing they did was measure the dimensions of the hole in the ground. They then shook their heads and said that it wasn't going to fit. Oh my, that was not good news.

Apparently, unbeknownst to me, they had made it 8' by 13' by mistake, instead of 8' by 12' which was specified in the drawings. The bedrock was jutting out into the area where it would need to be placed.

The men knew that the size was wrong when they loaded it onto the truck, but hadn't called me to let me know. Oops!

Cutting Bedrock So Root Cellar Will Fit

Determined as I am, I said I thought we could make it work anyway. So they got out their drills and various other tools and set about carving away at the bedrock.

While they were doing this, I got up on the truck to check out my new root cellar. I discovered that one side had a large crack in it, which had been patched! I'm guessing that it cracked when it was being put on the truck.

I called and spoke with the owner of the company and we agreed that we'd work out an adjustment to the price, which we later did.

When it was being swung around so it could be placed in the hole, I think it began to crack some more, in one of the corners. The fourth side (the side without the tar) was partially open, so this very heavy structure wasn't stable enough to hold together.

Root Cellar in Place

After many attempts, the root cellar has been lowered into place. Whew!

The side that's close to the house is sitting on the same footings as the house foundation. And that side was also bolted to the wall of the house foundation.

You can see a new crack in the corner in the foreground in the photo.

We had planned to put a type of rubber gasket between the root cellar wall and the house foundation, but due to the trouble in hoisting the cellar into place, this turned out not to be possible. The gasket would have helped keep water from seeping in.

Root Cellar Seen from Inside Basement - Before Top Was Put on

Tar was put along the top edge of the concrete structure before the top was put on, to keep moisture from coming in between that edge and the concrete top.

The top was then hoisted into place. It was getting dark by that time, so the photos didn't come out well enough to show that part of the process.

The next step was to cover the root cellar with heavy-duty polyethylene (plastic) to give more protection against water infiltration. Then crushed stone was poured around the outside to improve drainage and the top was covered with soil.

After these photos were taken, an elbow was attached to the bottom of the cold air intake pipe to direct the air toward the middle of the root cellar. Both pipes were covered with a "door" that can be opened or closed as needed, in order to maintain the desired temperature.

I had an insulated metal door installed between the basement and the root cellar. This was especially important in my situation, since my woodstove is in the basement and I wanted to keep the warm basement air from affecting the temperature in the root cellar.

Then a laundry sink was added outside the root cellar door, so I'd have a place to wash off the veggies before bringing them upstairs.

This sink has come in very handy! It was an extra expense, but I'm very glad I did it.

Completed Root Cellar with Shelves

Finally, I added the metal shelving which is solidly attached to the walls. This shelving allows for good circulation behind and around the baskets, bins, or other storage containers.

On the left, you can see my thermometer and humidity gauges. There are two of them because I wanted compare the readings to test their accuracy.

I still need to add at least one light and maybe an outlet for plugging in a fan to facilitate the flow of air on cool spring and fall nights.

Lessons I Learned: What I Would Have Done Differently

The main mistake that I made was to have it precast and delivered rather than having it cast in place. If there had been no gap in the fourth side, there would have been less likelihood of cracking since the structure would have been more stable. In hindsight, a structure such as this is less than ideal for being moved with a hoist. A better choice would have been to have the footings and the walls for the root cellar poured right in place, like would be done for a house foundation. Also, I think the cost would have been less if I'd had it cast in place.

Another mistake was not having that gasket put between the root cellar wall and the basement wall. The tar that was applied above that area didn't seal it completely, either. As a result, when it rained, water leaked in that area, causing the door frame to swell and the door to stick. (The problem had to be solved from the inside, since the outside was now covered with the raised beds. I did this by applying Water Plug. And the door was planed to make it slightly smaller so it would no longer stick.)

Building Codes

It's important to check your local and state building codes to make sure that you're not in violation. In my state, the root cellar is considered part of the house and thus has to be located a certain distance from the well. Also, make sure you don't need a building permit.

More Information and Articles

Building a Root Cellar: Here's a great step-by-step article by someone who had one cast in place, like a regular foundation would be. This is an even more elaborate project than mine, but very interesting.

Outdoor Root Cellars: Very helpful information about cold storage of vegetables when you don't have an underground root cellar. Includes descriptions of a trench silo, a "hole-in-the-ground pit", a garbage can cellar, and a root clamp. From Mother Earth News.

Creating a Root Cellar: This article by Eliot Coleman provides details about location, drainage, insulation, and humidity. Includes illustrations. Describes some easy techniques such as using metal garbage cans buried in the ground.

Root Cellaring: Excellent article by Nancy and Mike Bubel about building and using root cellars.

Build a Root Cellar: Another good article from Mother Earth News. This one is about converting a septic tank.

I loved the photos and all the details. Most importantly, I enjoy reading how you fixed the cracks, and how you recommend cellars be made in the future. A lot of good information. Thanks for sharing your story!

ItayaLightbourne 4 years ago from Topeka, KS

Fantastic article! What a huge undertaking this was! Very glad you shared it with us in this 'how to' article. :)

Holy Dark Spaces, Batman, this does not look like a weekend DIY project. I don't think there is a root cellar in my future, but thanks for showing us how it is done. Very informative for someone who is considering building one.

DLeighAlexander 4 years ago

Looks like quite a project, but definitely worthwhile and useful when you get it finished.

DebMartin 4 years ago

Fascinating. And what a project! I love that you put raised beds above your root cellar. Nice! d

favored 4 years ago from USA

Had one before, it was great. You took on a big chore. Hope it is working well for you.

Einar A 4 years ago

Congratulation on getting LOTD! This is some really excellent information, and presented so beautifully, too.

allenwebstarme 4 years ago

Root cellar not easy, feel your hard work, great lens!

Julia Morais 4 years ago

Wow, don't think I'd want to make a root cellar. This was an interesting read, though. Great lens.

BLemley 4 years ago from Raleigh, NC

Wow! What a project you undertook! Very professional and I know you enjoy the benefits and payback all year! Congratulations on your LOTD! B : )

SallyForth 4 years ago

Very cool root cellar. Well done. Congratulations on LOTD!

miaponzo 4 years ago

That is very interesting.. I have never seen it done like THAT before! My grandma used to have her root cellar.. in the cellar :) Blessed!

JennySui 4 years ago

Congrats on LOtD! You have done a great job on this lens.

intermarks 4 years ago

That is really awesome, It must cost you quite a lot.

jlshernandez 4 years ago

This is the first time I have heard of a root cellar. It is very interesting to see it built and seemed very time-consuming and costly. Thanks so much for sharing.

esvoytko lm 4 years ago

Beautiful, thanks for sharing! A root cellar is part of my perennial fantasy about moving into a mud hut in the middle of nowhere. Although mine might be a little smaller and more primitive than this one!

suzy-t 4 years ago

I've always dreamed of one...just never got around to planning the project. Nicely-constructed lens...and congrats on LOTD. Blesses by a SquidAngel...

anonymous 4 years ago

What a great lens. I like the layout and the way you explained the whole process in clear and concise language. Thanks for a great lens!

shahedashaikh 4 years ago

An awesome idea to make a root cellar.please go through my lens and give the appreciated sign.And congrats on being the LOTD!

Rosaquid 4 years ago

Congratulations on LOTD! This was interesting.

DiscoverWithAndy 4 years ago

Wow, awesome lens! I'm pretty sure you just made me late for work ;) Keep up the great work!

anonymous 4 years ago

great lens...

PamelaU 4 years ago

Very thought provoking. I'll send this to a friend who grows her own veg.

Thanks for making this lens.

Scotties-Rock 4 years ago from OREFIELD, PA

Great lens! Congratulations on lens of the day! Blessed!

Virginia Allain 4 years ago from Central Florida

You've done a terrific job here explaining how you did this and giving tips to anyone wanting to make one. Congratulations on being chosen Lens of the Day on Squidoo. Well-deserved!

anonymous 4 years ago

So cool to see, enjoyed seeing this be put together from your photos ... *blessed by a squid angel*

zvous 4 years ago

congrats on being LOTD March 12, 2012. What a great lens! thanks

333ideas 4 years ago

This page is very informative. Interesting subject. Please visit my page and let me know what you think. From 333ideas @ squidoo.com/anything-to-save-a-buck

anonymous 4 years ago

Wow! Pretty amazing project. Congratulations on getting LOTD!

laurenjane13 4 years ago

Wow this isn't just a simple project! Congrats for the successful project.

LinaRose 4 years ago

waw, congrats. Some project. and a nice lens!

JohnMichael2 4 years ago

nice project .... nice lens

vijayvvs_nsp 4 years ago

It looks really great...............Nice Lens

kimmanleyort 4 years ago

Wow. Fantastic descriptions and pictures. So valuable for anyone wanting to build a root cellar. Congratulations on LOTD. Well deserved.

JoshK47 4 years ago

What an awesome guide! Thanks for sharing. :) Blessed by a SquidAngel, and congrats on LotD!

livingfrontiers 4 years ago

I am so glad you took such great pictures, and shared this experience with us all..have you been able to save some potatoes and apples? what else are you going to be able to save? many thanks for a great lens!

Poplar_Publications 4 years ago

Appreciate your honesty about problems. It must have been a very expensive project. I also recommend where possible to go above grade and bank soil above and around root cellar to avoid leakage like you got because in time, the cement will most likely crack causing water problems.

agoofyidea 4 years ago

Congratulations on LOTD! This is an amazing project. I hope you are enjoying all your vegetables.

JimDickens 4 years ago

I grew up in rural NC with grandparents on farms. Their root cellars were quite a bit different but not nearly so good. They built teepee like structures of 6-8 foot poles or boards and then covered them with dirt. The door basically had blankets or something similar to insulate them. The lack of many hard freezes made this a reasonable method.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@livingfrontiers: I've been able to store potatoes, carrots, beets, parnips, turnips and other root vegetables. Also apples, but I put them on the top shelves and close to the exhaust vent, so the ethylene gasses that they give off will not cause the potatoes, which are stored at the other end of the cellar, to sprout. I store my onions and winter squash in my cool (50-60 degree) pantry, where it is much drier.

Alexis_Green 4 years ago

Amazing! Very cool lens! Thanks for sharing your story with us!

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@JimDickens: This sounds like what some people call a "clamp" and is another good way to store vegetables. It's discussed at length in the Bubel's "Root Cellaring" book.

anonymous 4 years ago

Great lense.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@Poplar_Publications: Thanks for the suggestion! I will think further about how to address this. Soil was somewhat banked up above the root cellar (we also put crushed stone around it, then added soil there), before the raised beds were added. However, water still collects in the raised beds, so I'm planning to drill some drainage holes in the sides of those soon.

julia007 4 years ago

what a great and useful lens!

Surreymagic 4 years ago

What an informative lens- you have really explained this adventure in detail. From your explanaition- being flexible and unflappable are key!

Michey LM 4 years ago

This is awesome, I like how you describe all details, it really is possible for somebody to try it! Angel dust sent in your way.

Well deserved LOTD

Diana Wenzel 4 years ago from Colorado

Congrats on LotD! Very interesting project and presentation. You have given me an idea. I have a large concrete underground cistern that is currently used as a water storage tank. It will be perfect for a root cellar. As soon as I drill a well, I plan to convert this structure into a root cellar. It is already waterproofed and has air intake piping in place. The only thing I will have to do is consider breaking through the floor (to have a dirt floor instead of concrete). Thanks for sharing the process and key elements of a food storage structure. Appreciated!

anonymous 4 years ago

Returning to congratulate you on LotD and doing the root cellar dance of joy with you. I've thought of this since I was here, you sprang back memories of many root cellars of my childhood and always found them fascinating, especially how cool they stay on a hot day and remember hearing, "Close the door tight!".

BodyLanguage12 4 years ago

nice

faye durham 4 years ago

Excellent! I enjoyed reading your article and learning how to make a root cellar.

Miska29 4 years ago

Nice :)

Kevin Wilson 2 4 years ago

Very well done lens. Do you think the resulting root cellar is worth the time, trouble and expense?

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@Kevin Wilson 2: Absolutely! It was a difficult project, but I had a lot of fun with it, too! I consider the root cellar to be an investment - both adding to the value of my house and allowing me to store a large amount of produce over the winter, thus saving on grocery bills (and gasoline used driving the long distance to the store). It is large enough to be used by others, including family living in the area, as well as myself. So, yes, I feel it was well worth it and am very pleased with the results.

MelonyVaughan 4 years ago

Great tips!

dahlia369 4 years ago

Not that I could have a root cellar here in Florida, but I am well familiar with the benefits of having one - from living in other places. A wonderful how-to lens and congrats on LOTD recognition! :)

anonymous 4 years ago

A very nice documentation of your trials and tribulations of installing your root cellar. By the looks of it, not so difficult and with major benefits. Thank you for sharing.

dannystaple 4 years ago

I'd never heard of a root cellar before this. An interesting idea. Congratulations on LOTD!

Steph Tietjen 4 years ago from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Good information and account. My brother wants to build one, so I'm sending him the link. Thanks

TravelingRae 4 years ago

What a fascinating lens! Thank you for sharing your story. What kind of vegetables do you store in your root cellar? I'm surprised that your setup isn't a good place for winter squashes, which are the first thing I would want to hoard for the winter months.

julescorriere 4 years ago from Jonesborough TN

This is so interesting. Congratulations on Lens of The Day. Well Deserved! Blessed.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@TravelingRae: I've stored potatoes, carrots, beets, parnips, turnips and other root vegetables. Also, apples. Winter squash will rot at the high humidity levels needed by the root vegetables. Winter squash likes a humidity of about 60-70% and a temp of about 50-60 degrees (F). My pantry works well for storing them.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words, comments, and suggestions! I very much appreciate them and feel honored to have this lens named LOTD.

BarbaraCasey 4 years ago from St. Petersburg, Florida

Excellent lens. In central Florida, it's pretty tough to install a root cellar. Luckily the growing season is pretty long. Congrats on LOTD!

Brite-Ideas 4 years ago from Toronto, Canada

This is amazing..I've never heard of this. You put together an excellent presentation as well.

squid-pinkchic18 4 years ago

Awesome lens! I actually didn't know what a root cellar was before reading this, so I definitely learned a lot here! Would love to see more about this topic. And your project turned out so nice! Props!

clouda9 lm 4 years ago

We were just talking about making a root cellar for our garden bounty, so thank you for this page with all your photos and tips. *Blessed today and congrats on LOTD!

HealthfulMD 4 years ago from Northern California

Did you include the costs somewhere? How about the cost to 'run' it?

I remember visiting my grandmother's basement where food was stored. Seems like a good idea.

KimGiancaterino 4 years ago

Wow ... what an ambitious project. My great grandparents had a root cellar and it was always full of food. Congratulations on LOTD.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@HealthfulMD: There's no cost to "run" it, unless I decide to occasionally use a fan to bring the cool air in more quickly. Then there would be a small cost for electricity. Using it saves money due to not having to buy the veggies (they come from my garden) or pay for gas going to the store. Also, it's great to have during power outages in the winter, since the root cellar stays at about the same temp as a refrigerator. As far as the cost to make the root cellar, I can only say that it was more than I planned! :) But it was well worth it!!

TerryBain 4 years ago

Very cool. Very ambitious. Great work.

getmoreinfo 4 years ago

What an amazing project, and very useful information. I can see that more people will be wanting to build their own root cellar. Congrats on being featured by SquidooHQ

knit1tat2 4 years ago

Wow, what a great project, and I have root cellar envy! Had one once that didn't work right, no air movement. But, that was many years ago, and a good one is now on my wish list! Thanks, and I know you enjoy your new room!

Brandi Bush 4 years ago from Maryland

So happy to see you get LotD! Congrats! :)

Lee Hansen 4 years ago from Vermont

What an ambitious project, to construct a genuine root cellar. I've created makeshift storage in my basement and in the bulkhead but it's not truly temperature and humidity controlled. Thanks for sharing your project including the cast in place vs precast info.

Deadicated LM 4 years ago

Whoa, that's the serious root cellar! You don't kid around when you make a project for yourself :)

Kailua-KonaGirl 4 years ago from New York

Fabulous lens. Well deserving of LOTD. *Squid Angel Blessed* and added to My Squid Angel Blessings 2012 in the "Home & Garden Â» Home Improvement" neighborhood. In fact, you are the 1st one in that category. Whoot!

This is fascinating. It looks like quite an undertaking! My Mother's very old house has a room like this that we always wondered about. Now I'm curious if it was an old root cellar. I hope you really enjoy the fruits of your labor.

CNelson01 4 years ago from California

Wow! What a project. Who would have thought one could write such an interesting lens about a root cellar. Well done!

ErnestBoehm 4 years ago

Reminds me of my grandmothers root Celler in North Dakota. Full of hams, summer Saugage, pickles and bags of potatoes.

Well deserved LoTD. I had never thought of this! Angel Blessed due to your thoroughness, originality and personal approach to the subject.

anonymous 4 years ago

Well done. Great lens. Informative.

fugeecat lm 4 years ago

Way cool! I want a root cellar now.

mercin12 4 years ago

Really thorough. I loved all of the actual pictures of your project. Thank you for sharing.

Aquavel 4 years ago

Amazing project! Very cool. Good for you that you checked and recorded each step. Can't believe that the delivery men knew the root cellar was the wrong size when it was first loaded into the truck and they never said a word! Good you were on top of everything! Gorgeous completed root cellar, especially with the added shelving. When do you get to taste the fruits of your labor?

accfuller 4 years ago

Congratulations on LOTD! Great job :)

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@Aquavel: Am enjoying veggies and apples from my root cellar now. It's great to have the produce so handy.

DesertRatDan 4 years ago

Quite a large project. Hats off to ya for that. Great Lense.

three-em 4 years ago

very impressive, your lens very detailed with organized steps. congratulation on LOTD :D

M Sankey 4 years ago

Wonderful, I had never even heard of a root cellar!

jamesjo 4 years ago

I was expecting to find a long general "How To" as opposed to a documentation of a personal project but this was quite an interesting read!

happynutritionist 4 years ago

Enjoyed all the pictures and attention to detail...we couldn't have one in our lake community with high water table, but it looks like a great addition if you have the land and means. Very interesting.

Anthony Altorenna 4 years ago from Connecticut

Wow, this is an amazing project, made even more spectacular by your step-by-step photos and commentary for making a Root Cellar. Now, you'll have to grow a lot of fruit & veggies this summer to fill all of those shelves! Best wishes with your root cellar. Cheers!

AstroGremlin 4 years ago

Had no idea of the specifications for a root cellar, or the potential complications of installing one. Letting people learn from your mistakes is generous. Not everyone would!

MBurgess 4 years ago from Las Vegas, Nevada

I bet you were really excited to start using it for food storage! Thanks for sharing this! Neat Story =) Great lense!

Titia 4 years ago from Waterlandkerkje - The Netherlands

Most of the houses in my country don't have basements like they have in the States. Some old houses and old farmhouses have cellars, but our house didn't have one. Making one would be very, very costly. I really enjoyed your step by step story.

Lauriej1 4 years ago

Awesome lens!!! I'm really interested in building one of these now! Thanks for the tips and advice! :)

Fran Tollett 4 years ago

WOW! I know you are enjoying your root cellar. Thanks for sharing the mistakes. That will help the ones who are wanting to build their own.

anonymous 4 years ago

Very informative. Thanks for including many pictures. Your topic of root cellar is a hot topic...sought out by those in the self reliance community too.

pawpaw911 4 years ago

Great idea. Now I want to make one.

whodiesinthenew 4 years ago

Thank you for a great write-up!

sellhousefastusa 4 years ago

Definitely instructional and valuable for home owners whom need to understand how to construct a root cellar

GoodGirlSEO 4 years ago

Nice lens. I may have the time to get this done some day...

virtualboy 4 years ago

very informative, I've never heard of a root cellar until now.

jpapadpapa 4 years ago

Very interesting! I liked seeing the pictures that show step by step how you did this.

teamunited12 4 years ago

Wow....awesome project...

goo2eyes lm 4 years ago

never heard about root cellar before. now i know what it is. we can't have any cellar because our house is close to a creek. angel blessings for this gigantic project.

Einar A 4 years ago

Congratulations on your Purple Star! It's great to see a lens that is so obviously backed up by a lot of personal experience, and is so informative and helpful to anyone who may be contemplating a similar project.

athomemomblog 4 years ago from Guatemala

Really interesting lens! I would definitely cast in place if I were to build a root cellar. We're looking at putting one in but have drainage issues that I feel would affect things. I grew up with one and now that I live in a tropical country, cool storage would be highly appreciated!

cynthiannleighton 4 years ago

Great picture!

My dad had a root cellar growing up.

My grandmother's root cellar was way different!

More literally a root cellar...

A Long Time Ago.

blessings,

Cynthia

P.S. Thanks!

jordanmilesbask 4 years ago

wow, this is very interesting lens..thanks for sharing!

jordanmilesbask 4 years ago

wow, this is very interesting lens..thanks for sharing!

anonymous 4 years ago

Interesting and enlightning. Thanks

jmatts1 4 years ago

Wow, impressive. Thanks for sharing your experience. Not feasible at all for my current location but something to consider in the future.

tricomanagement 4 years ago

This is a fantastic step-by-step (big steps, grant you) Lens taking us through the building of your root cellar. we had one when I was very young but they made it out of an unused coal bin room. I think it was more of just a dark food storage food. Great Lens! Thanks

what's4dinner 4 years ago

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing this very informative lens!

vetochemicals 4 years ago from Pittsburgh Pa

Your root cellar looks great and glad it all worked out in the end. Very nice instructions!!

anonymous 4 years ago

How brave you were to cut a hole in your house. The result was wonderful.

MJsConsignments 4 years ago from Central Ohio, USA

Wow! Great information! This is something I want to do once we move (because no house where we're looking "comes" with one) but I had no real idea if it was even feasible, so thank you!

Einar A 4 years ago

Congratulations for having this well-written and informative article appear on the front page! Such good information for anyone who is considering putting in a root cellar.

flycatcherrr 4 years ago

Well done, indeed. I'm lucky enough to live in an old house complete with root cellar, but if I didn't have one I'd certainly consider putting one in - though it's a fairly daunting prospect, for sure!

jessicahoward 4 years ago

It is amazing to know the process how to make root cellar and it is really very interesting to know it step by step the whole procedure...even it being explained beautifully and minutely which is so understood........thanks

Gayle Dowell 4 years ago from Kansas

This looks like an extensive project. I loved watching the process in your lens. Blessed.

anonymous 4 years ago

Returning to congratulate you on front page honors and that excellent lensrank that you have maintained after LotD in March! This is the pretties root cellar that I have ever seen!

RoadMonkey 4 years ago

What a fantastic piece of work. It's the kind of project you think "I would love to do that" but until you try it you don't actually know just how difficult it could be. That would be a great item to have added to a house when it was being built.

katieross 4 years ago

You make building a root cellar seem so easy! This is great information!

nicks44 4 years ago

You were not kidding ... You actually made it! And all in one lens ... I am amazed, well done!

bushaex 4 years ago from Ohio

Thorough and enjoyable! SquidAngel blessings.

microfarmproject 4 years ago

Enjoyed reading about your project. Thanks!

aesta1 4 years ago from Ontario, Canada

This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing these important tips from your own experience.

xriotdotbiz lm 4 years ago

Wow, a great read and a fun journey. Makes me think how much you learned to put in a root cellar, but at the same time were then able to pass this knowledge on through this lens. Especially liked the raised beds over the cellar and the wooden covers for the intake and exhaust pipes.

anonymous 4 years ago

very well done!

Gypzeerose 4 years ago

Back to sprinkle some more angel dust, this squidoo lens is so amazing.

Cabmgmnt LM 4 years ago from Massachusetts

Love the detailed pictures and the idea of doing this. i have an old Victorian house and would love this as an addition1

katiecolette 4 years ago

Wow, what a project! You did an excellent job on documenting all the steps and taking photos of different stages of the project. Thumbs up :)

CuAllaidh 4 years ago from Alberta Canada

Very cool lens. Love how detailed your descriptions and the pics you added. One day hope to have a house with a root cellar, or if not to put one in :D

chwwalker lm 4 years ago

What an awesome resource! I love all the photos so we can see how the process worked, and your candid attitude toward your mistakes.

SecondHandJoe LM 4 years ago

Amazing. One of the easiest lenses to follow step by step. Really enjoyed it! I was talking about root cellaring to a friend, and she said, "What's a root cellar? I've heard of them but what are they used for?" You might want to add a line to your intro for the folks who don't know what it's used for.

Fantastic step by step lens! Congratulations on your purple Star and being selected for Lens of the Day!

Rumisglass 4 years ago

Wonderfully crafted article. Look forward to reading a lot more from you.

CameronPoe 4 years ago

this is a fantastic idea.

timo5150 lm 4 years ago

Great lens. I like information that helps people become self reliant. Having a proper root cellar is a must for storing food without electricity.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@SecondHandJoe LM: Thanks for your kind words and thanks for the suggestion! When I have a chance, I'll add something explaining what a root cellar is - and maybe the history of root cellars.

jazziyarbrough 4 years ago

I'm too lazy to make a root cellar, but I enjoyed your energy while I watched you make your root cellar with all the great pictures and instructions. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed the honor of reading this wonderful lens.

JDEEZY 4 years ago

nice project you had going there

SpenceG 4 years ago

If I had a root cellar, I'd pack it with beer.

CristianStan 4 years ago

Looks like making a root cellar needs lots of work. But definitely worth it once done!

MohkaUK LM 4 years ago

Great lens, thanks!

anonymous 4 years ago

Tons of good information in this lens. I Especially like the 'lessons learned' wrap up you included. Thanks for sharing.

wedpittsburgh lm 4 years ago

This is an excellent lens with a lot of great info. My mom loves this stuff so I will be sending this link to her! Thanks!

tamstone 4 years ago

If I had a root cellar, I'd pack it with beer.

this ^

ElizabethSheppard 4 years ago from Bowling Green, Kentucky

I really enjoyed this lens. I wish I had a basement! Maybe someday. I think having a root cellar would be so nice. ::::blessed::::

anonymous 4 years ago

Good article on building a root cellar. Do you have anywhere root cellars are under a garage, basement will be cold storage area, with spancrete ceiling. Plan is too build this year or next. Root cellar is a new idea for me today, so there are no plans other than ruff stechs. Any advice, will be very helpful

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@anonymous: I suggest that you have someone look at the situation (maybe an engineer) to see if the floor of the garage will still carry the load required - for example the weight of a car or cars - if you remove the support below it. If you don't park cars in there, I suspect it would be more likely to work. But getting the advise of an expert is important if you don't want any unexpected surprises.

Onemargaret LM 4 years ago

Wow! Never seen a root cellar before! Very interesting lens!

earthybirthymum 4 years ago from Ontario, Canada

That is one elaborate root cellar! I'd love to have something similar. many blessings

anonymous 4 years ago

very nice indeed. I would like to know about how much this cost and the time frame for building it. again very nice . the lense was well written also.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@anonymous: As far as the time frame, it took a day or two to dig the hole and place the drain pipes. Then, once the root cellar arrived, it took that whole day (I think) to get the door cut out of the basement wall and place the root cellar in the hole, including drilling out the bedrock, bolting the root celalr to the basement wall and covering the edges with tar. Then it took another day or so to insulate the root cellar, cover it with plastic and fill in around it, etc. As far as the cost, I can only say that it was quite a bit more than I had anticipated when I started the project. But... no regrets.

Pangionedevelopers 4 years ago

Great lens, you really put a lot of effort into it and it shows. Maybe you want to add some video clips as well. Very informative. For similar info, check out this site... BERGEN COUNTY CONTRACTORS

Winterhawkconstr 4 years ago

Great information. i have always wanted a root seller i just use baskets in the basement now.

anonymous 4 years ago

I'm worried your chrome shelving is going to rust eventually. Also, the fact metal conducts cold so well might have an adverse effect on what is stored on it, i.e., vegetables or fruit. Just things to keep in mind. Cheers!

KateH2 4 years ago

Had never heard of a root cellar before stumbling across your lens. Very interesting read and well documented. I would have also been interested in know how much it cost, not because I am think about having one but more out of curiosity. Maybe a tally at the end of each step? Also how long did it take from start to finish?

anonymous 4 years ago

How much did it cost all together?

CoffeeWriter LM 4 years ago

Loved the lens. I've been thinking of doing this myself though I would cast the concrete in place, for the reasons you stated.

getpregnanthelp 4 years ago

Great lens! My husband and I are planning on building a root cellar as well. Got a lot of useful information from your article and also some things to look out for. I was wondering though, just where it was that you had the pre-cast cellar made?

anonymous 4 years ago

Brilliant ideas! Pretty nice lens.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@anonymous: Thanks for the advice. I'll keep an eye on the chrome shelving. Haven't had trouble yet with the problem of the cold metal affecting the produce. I store my root veggies (except potatoes) in baskets with moistened peat moss. So the basket and a layer of peat moss are between the shelves and the produce.

flicker lm 4 years ago Author

@getpregnanthelp: I had the root cellar made by a company that produces septic tanks, burial vaults, and other pre-cast cement products.

Muebles de host 4 years ago

Nice lens with wonderful information. tks,

anonymous 4 years ago

We have an old storm cellar that was on the property when we bought it that I am wanting to turn into a root cellar, just wasn't sure about venting, ect. until I read your article, so thank you for sharing! Got several ideas from this to incorporate on "what was already here"!

VspaBotanicals 4 years ago

I'm greatly impressed. Great, great lens.

uneasywriter lm 4 years ago

This is a very well done lens! I would love to put in a root cellar but with some required repairs and other things of importance needing to be finished a root cellar project is down the list of things right now.

Great ideas, but root cellars don't work too well where I live in SE Louisiana. They tend to fill with water or float up out of the ground. I did enjoy your lens about root cellars. I found it interesting and informative and now know that those suckers are expensive and a heck of a lot of work. :-)

TonyB

myspace9 4 years ago

Very informative lens.

Kaellyn 4 years ago

Wow, that was quite a process. I'm not at the point of needing a root cellar (more like just contemplating putting in a veggie garden), but if I ever reach that point, I'll come back to this lens to get started.

dawnsnewbeginning 3 years ago

A lot of work but I can almost taste the veggies that will come out of there!

Resident-Nerd 3 years ago

I really enjoyed reading this, not something i had thought about before but it did spark my interest. Thank you and great lens.

lionmom100 3 years ago

Wow. You built quite a root cellar. My yard is too small to accommodate one. The closest I can get is storing things in the garage in winter. Looking to grow some root veggies in my new raised beds next year, though.

David-N 3 years ago

Wow that looks really major but it would be awesome to have a root cellar. Great lens :)

Doc_Holliday 3 years ago

Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

KitchenExpert LM 3 years ago

Great information! Have you ever tried making one with the blocks though? That is the style I am looking at doing now.

suepogson 3 years ago

Hey I just learned loads.... Thank you!

mrdata 3 years ago

Valuable lens here! Thanks for all your great info!

cargoliftken 3 years ago

Great article! I super love your lens. Nice pictures, too.

Ursel001 3 years ago

Great lense!

Fantastic!

Thank you for useful info!!!

XenasDeals 3 years ago

Great info, my parents live on an acreage, and their cellar got flooded last spring, didn't ruin potato crop too badly, you gave some ideas here for building a new one, thank you.

makarenko 3 years ago

great idea! my grandma use to have one and it was full of yummy preserves and pickles - always worth a visit! :)

<3

contentlove 3 years ago

Excellent resource for root cellar. Good project details are here!

anonymous 3 years ago

Do you think a small shipping container could buried and made into a root cellar?

flicker lm 3 years ago Author

@anonymous: Apparently some people have done it, but I don't have any experience with it. There are some videos on youtube about using shipping containers for a root cellar. (Just do a search for "shipping container root cellar".) I think the two main concerns would be 1) possible rusting of the metal over time, due to the high humidity in a root cellar, and 2) whether the roof could withstand the weight of the dirt that you'd need to put on top of it.

MelanieKaren 3 years ago from Pennsylvania, USA

hello and nice to meet you :) -nice lens worthy of a purple star! -you must be so thankful to have your own root cellar that you built yourself! *liked* and *pinned* :)

anonymous 3 years ago

Unusual topic...but interesting! Well done.

spurldoggy 3 years ago

What an awesome idea! I was looking through the home improvement section and found your lens. I am now thinking about building one in my back yard!

CrystalNici LM 3 years ago

One day my fiancé and I would like to start homesteading in the Netherlands. This article is fantastic and very useful, it is another one that will be bookmarked for future reference. I am sorry you had such trouble with the people making the concrete for the cellar but thanks for sharing as it means others will learn from you mistakes. Brilliant!

naturaldrycarpetcleaning 3 years ago

Very interesting. Great article!

flicker lm 3 years ago Author

@spurldoggy: I hope you do build one! You won't regret it. I consider it an investment. Lowers my food costs because I can store root veggies from my garden and use them during the winter. Rarely purchase veggies now - summer or winter. And there's no drive to the market to get the veggies - they're as close as a walk down to the basement.

flicker lm 3 years ago Author

@CrystalNici LM: I'm so glad you enjoyed the article and found it useful. That's wonderful that you plan to start homesteading!

pauly99 lm 3 years ago

Up until today, I really wasn't sure what a root cellar was... or is used for. Thanks for explaining it to us.

Very nice lens by the way!

Muebles de host 3 years ago

very nice lens. thank you

choosehappy 3 years ago from US

Wow---that is a super helpful tutorial--love the pics showing the progress.

anonymous 3 years ago

Great idea! I hope that when you buy our next house this might an option for us. I get so tired of not having room to store store extra veggies and fruit where they won't spoil.

vinopete 3 years ago

What a cool idea! If only I had a basement of my own.

pericaluic 3 years ago

super idea

Muebles de exte 3 years ago

Very nice lens, thank you very much for your info

Teddi14 LM 3 years ago

Love this lens. I want one too but I am in the city and would probably have to dig it from the inside from the basement...

anonymous 3 years ago

Fluid applied elastomeric waterproofing is the best performing waterproofing since it's able to bridge cracks that form - get a good brand (like Henry or Sika) from a contractor supply. You'll want drainage mat and gravel along the walls with perforated drainage pipe around the foundation. You can do interior insulation rather than exterior, similar to what's done for the basement of a house. Anybody familiar with heat recovery ventilation?

jc stone 3 years ago

Through and informative lens!

Rhonda Lytle 3 years ago from Deep in the heart of Dixie

A most impressive wealth of information you have presented. It's nice to hear about the potential problems before beginning such a big project.

Gypzeerose 3 years ago

Fabulous lens. One of these days though, show us a photo of all the fruits and veggies you have stored! Pinned to my lens "Thrifty Living."

anonymous 3 years ago

nice lens

cameron-johnson-750983 3 years ago

Hi - Sorry but I must have missed something. What is a root cellar?

JenwithMisty 3 years ago

Wow.. this is pretty cool!

geosum 3 years ago

Back in my younger years, we had a farmhouse with a root cellar basement. I can still remember the musty smell. We used it for many years.

flicker lm 3 years ago Author

@Gypzeerose: The intro photo shows my baskets of potatoes. I should have taken a photo this past winter, but almost everything is eaten up now, except the potatoes. My article "Root Cellaring - Book Review" (see section above) has an intro photo of some carrots packed in a basket from my root cellar.

flicker lm 3 years ago Author

@cameron-johnson-750983: Yes, I should probably add something to this article to explain what a root cellar is. Thanks for the suggestion. A root cellar is a place where you can store root vegetables (and certain fruit) through the winter. The coolness and the moisture keep the vegetables and fruit from spoiling. It's where I store extra root vegetables from my garden, so I can continue to enjoy them over the winter.

anonymous 3 years ago

Great story. I assume from the date stamps on the story and comments that you are just beginning your second season of use. Correct? Lessons learned? I grew up with root cellars and canning and major gardening and am trying to return to that, in suburbia. This has inspired me to use a needed foundation dig for a drainage repair to build a root cellar rather than build a remote one on a hillside at the back of the property, thanks for that! I am an amateur architect and see a couple more things in your design that might come back to bite you over time. I hope not. Poured in place is the only way to go, IMHO. I do like the sink...we have that. I like your raised-bed cap, great idea. Won't work for our orientation to the street and grade, so I will have to study another solution to insulation and landscaping. What is your latitude and how has that impacted your storage? We are now a zone 6 (climate change) about 39 degrees, 58 minutes in Ohio with a yoyo winter so insulation is critical. Your pics seem to indicate that you are more north with better snow cover. thanks for any feedback you can provide and happy winter eating!

Dusty2 LM 3 years ago

Very nice lens that is well documented and illustrated with your photos. As a youngster I lived on farms that had underground root cellars that were also used as storm and tornado shelters because there was no basements. During the summer I always liked to hang out in the root cellar where it was nice and cool when the temps was over 90 degrees plus I always liked the earthy smell. I sure miss those old root cellars because there was something else about them that's hard to explain. Anyway, appreciate you writing and sharing this lens. Have a Great Day.

vineliner57 3 years ago from Bloomington, IN

My Grandpa had a small root cellar that he made cherry wine in from fruit he picked from a nearby tree. I remember going down there as a small child. It was pretty neat.

Meganhere 3 years ago

Wow, that's awesome. Great lens, great work!

avonproducts4me 3 years ago

Do you mind me asking about how much this endeavor cost? I am looking at a root cellar, but am unsure of a rough estimate of each way I could go. avonproducts4me at yahoo dot com

a-elkins 3 years ago

Great article! Hope you can post an update in the future on how long your produce lasts in cold storage.

tonyleather 3 years ago

What a greart post. Chock full of excellent advice. Thanks.

Donna Cook 2 years ago

Wow! What amazing project!

FantasticVoyages 2 years ago from Texas

This is a great article! I would love to have a root cellar of my own, but I imagine my neighbors wouldn't be happy with me digging up our yards!

LiteraryMind 2 years ago from Connecticut, USA

Wow, this is a lot more complicated than I thought. I thought one just brings bushel baskets down to the basement. Interesting.

paulahite 2 years ago from Virginia

Totally awesome lens! Labor of love for sure! Your lens has been featured on "The Green Thumb: A Place For Gardeners To Gather" Facebook page. Please like/share it with your friends!

ClaytonDaily 2 years ago

Great step by step instructions. Enjoyed the pictures also.

sreohl1 2 years ago

This is one of the most interesting lenses I've read - and the articles are also. I read each. When I was young, we had a root cellar. but I don't remember the elaborate insulation, piping, etc. The house was built in 1924 and I remember an area in the basement of which 3 sides were completely below ground level. It was sectioned off from the basement by a wall and door made of wood but with a slatted effect so there were cracks. The temperature was constant year-round.

iamshermie 2 years ago from US

Clear explanation of every step. Thanks for sharing this useful lens.

amandamarie31 2 years ago

awesome I love it.

Angie 10 months ago

I'm from East Texas and remember when my grandpa would grow veggies. The potatoes and fruits would just get scattered under the house